Committee To Study Property Values

HAMPTON — The chairman of the city's new finance committee said his group will study property assessments.

Councilman Randy Gilliland said he agrees with Councilwoman Angela Leary's assertion that some homes are undervalued -- forcing other homeowners to pay more in taxes.

The committee will discuss the issue Thursday, Gilliland said, and should be able to make some recommendation for developing more fair and equitable assessments by September or October.

Leary singled out the neighborhood of former City Manager George Wallace last week as one of several sections of the city where assessments, which determine tax bills, are lagging far behind market values. *